Houston residents love their moderate climate with average yearly temperatures in the high 60s and around 45 inches of rain. They also love their lawns. Houston’s combination of warm weather and higher rainfall levels means your lawn requires care tailored to its specific needs.
Whether you are planting, fertilizing or weeding, these Houston lawn care tips for your residential or commercial property will help keep your lawn healthy and beautiful.
Planting Grass Tips
Getting a lush lawn will require planting grass in Houston at the appropriate time. Various turf grasses thrive in the Houston climate. Lawn care experts can provide additional Texas lawn care tips and recommend the best variety for your particular property.
Popular Grass Types: Bermuda and St. Augustine Grass
Two of the most popular types for the area are Bermuda grass and St. Augustine grass. Bermuda grass thrives with plenty of rain and is also drought-resistant. It can tolerate high traffic, so the kids can play in your yard and it will still look great. For an aesthetically pleasing lawn, consider St. Augustine grass. This type of grass is a beautiful and shade-friendly variety that also works well in the area.
Planting Trees Tips
The Houston climate supports a number of beautiful trees, including majestic oaks and hardy shade and fruit trees. One of the best trees to plant in Houston is the bur oak, a variety that is native to the area. You will need a large yard for this oak since its branches can extend as far as 50 feet, essentially shading and cooling off your entire backyard.
Cedar elms thrive in Houston and provide superior shade. The green leafy branches can extend more than 40 feet, blanketing your yard in lovely, cool shade. Pecan trees are another excellent choice, with a branch span of up to 50 feet. Unfortunately, pecan trees can require a lot of maintenance.
Fruit trees are another good choice for Houston, particularly the olive tree. It stays green all through the year, grows delicious olives and, as a bonus, attracts butterflies.
Houston Lawn Fertilization Tips
No matter where you live, good lawn care is a critical part of the equation. In Houston, you need to nurture your lawn with the right fertilization. Sticking to the right Houston lawn fertilizer schedule leads to healthy green grass that is better able to fight off disease, insects, and drought.
Any good Texas lawn care guide will recommend having your soil tested to determine exactly what type of fertilizer it needs. Absent the soil test, you can use a 4-1-2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to safely and effectively fertilize your lawn. Do not over fertilize. Too much of a good thing can actually cause grass leaves to overdevelop before the roots grow as deep as they should.
When to Fertilize Bermuda Grass in Texas
Know how to fertilize your specific grass type in Texas. For instance, Bermuda grass needs more nitrogen than St. Augustine grass does. High rainfall areas and areas with sandy soil in Texas also need more nitrogen.
Schedule your fertilization efforts according to expert recommendations. St. Augustine grass needs its first fertilizer after its second mowing. In contrast, Bermuda grass needs its first dose several weeks after the area completes its seasonal green-up.
In general, you will fertilize your lawn once every four to eight weeks between June and August.
These are only general Houston lawn care tips. Consult with our residential lawn service experts at Zodega TIS to determine the best fertilizer ratio and schedule for your lawn. We can pinpoint the products your Bermuda grass and other plants need to thrive in Texas.
Lawn Care Tips for Weed Control
Controlling your weed population is one of the more frustrating aspects of lawn care. A healthy, well-fertilized lawn will naturally fight off invaders better than an unhealthy lawn. Still, you can follow some simple Texas lawn care tips to reduce these unwanted plants.
First, do not mow the grass too short. It should be mowed frequently but only trimmed one-third of its total length. Consider not bagging the clippings; instead, let them work as fertilizer. In conjunction with your regular fertilization schedule, this step discourages weed growth.
Work to identify the type of weeds that have infested your lawn. Simply killing individual plants will not help you control the problem. Different weeds thrive in different conditions. Once you identify these pesky plants, you can adapt your lawn care regimen and make your yard an unfriendly host for them. Seeking expert help is your best route to a weed-free lawn.
Houston residents and business owners take pride in their city and their lawns. Because the area receives plenty of sunshine and rain, it is home to several stunning lawns that feature lush green grass, elegant shade trees, and a wide array of other plants that thrive in this verdant climate.
Need Lawn Care Help?
Managing all this growth can be difficult for property owners. Consulting a Texas lawn care guide like this one is a great first step, but commercial owners often need even more guidance since their businesses depend on making a good impression.
Houston Lawn Care
You need skilled lawn care experts that are dependable and knowledgeable. Zodega TIS offers commercial lawn care in Houston that leaves lawns looking both professional and beautiful.
For even more Houston lawn care tips, contact Zodega TIS today.